Germany's Pistorius to push for higher defense budget amid Russian threat

He said this in an interview with Tagesspiegel.

Pistorius believes that under the current geopolitical circumstances, the €1.25 billion increase in defence spending in the agreed budget is not enough investment. 

"I continue to advocate for the Bundeswehr to receive the money it needs given the all-too-real threat from Russia. The next opportunity for this is the parliamentary procedure," the minister stressed.

In his opinion, the federal government needs another "fundamental discussion" on how to guarantee Germany's security.

"I was not satisfied with the outcome before the government's decision, and I am certainly not satisfied with it now," he said.

During the government's discussions, Pistorius insisted that spending on his sector should be increased by 6.7 billion, not 1.25 billion from the current 52 billion. 

The minister does not share Finance Minister Christian Lindner's view that Germany has returned to normal fiscal policy after the coronavirus pandemic, especially with regard to military needs and Ukraine. Pistorius believes that Germany should take on an even greater military role in Europe as the largest European economy. 

"We are not dealing with a fictional threat, an illusion or a dystopia... The threat situation is real... The danger does not get smaller if you ignore it - it gets bigger," he commented on the threat from Russia.

He emphasises that in such circumstances it is important to arm ourselves well so that it becomes a deterrent and no one even dares to attack Germany. In addition, NATO allies expect Berlin to play a greater role in ensuring common security.

"If Donald Trump becomes president of the United States, the balance of power in NATO is likely to change even faster... If we don't find a solution to reflect all these circumstances in the budget, the next government will have to do it," he stressed. 

• In 2025, Germany plans to halve its military aid to Ukraine. The draft budget provides for €4 billion instead of €8 billion in 2024.